Sit and talk or stand and howl?

Football too real for manufactured drama

November 25, 2014

by

Nathanael from Belle Plaine, MN

One of my favorite things about your column is getting perspective for different eras of the game. I just read an article highlighting some of Aaron Rodgers’ achievements through his first 100 games (Miami will be his 100th) compared to other quarterbacks. What really stood out to me is Johnny Unitas is still fifth all-time for most touchdown passes in his first 100 games with 167. What Unitas did has to be truly amazing for his era, but can you add some perspective to show just how incredible that might have been?

Multiply what Rodgers has done by two. That’s my perspective of Unitas’ achievement as it relates to today’s game.

J.J. from Cape Coral, FL

I love my Brewers, Bucks and Packers equally. With fewer games in the Packers’ season, I seldom miss a play, but baseball is so social. You can sit and talk about the details of the game or what’s going on with the family. You can’t do that at a basketball or football game. I think you are missing out.

Baseball is for sitting and talking. At a football game, you stand and howl. It’s all in what you prefer. Either way, I’m gonna be up in the press box sitting, not talking and watch. I like to sit, not talk and watch.

Nick from Toronto, Ontario

Vic, what a wonderful way to explain your love of football. In the end, it’s about what appeals to our senses. In the past, you’ve discussed why there haven’t been many good football movies; perhaps the reason is they don’t capture the game as you’ve described it. What do you think?

Football is too intensely real and personal for it to be captured by manufactured drama.

Troy from Madison, WI

It’s in the grasp, Vic.

That seems to be the consensus.

Joe from Jalalabad, Afghanistan

Vic, I agree the Packers need to have some shade on their sideline. I used to be a police officer in Phoenix and would work off-duty jobs during the day, and standing in 110-degree heat in August I learned to stand in the shadow of telephone poles to avoid the sun. It worked.

On the practice field in Jacksonville, I stood pressed up against the tarp that covered the fences. The heat coming off the tarp made standing next to it feel like you were in an oven, but the sliver of shade it provided was worth it.

Jerry from Kent, WA

To Sean from Boulder, CO: Good point. Vic, throughout your career, do you think it was often you’ve been given intentionally false information by someone from a team’s organization?

Not intentionally false information, but something a lot less than full transparency. I played a little hallway game with Coach Noll on the days of his conference call with the opponents’ media. As we would pass in the hallway following one of his calls, I would ask him, “How’d it go?” He’d say, “Little information was passed.” He’d smile and I’d shake my head. Hey, it’s what they do. They try to hide the truth; we try to find the truth. It’s a game.